Connor Garnett

In one of the most electrifying displays of athleticism and mental grit in pro pickleball history, third-seed Connor Garnett stages back-to-back comebacks against ninth-seed Jack Sock at the Select Medical Orange County Cup. After erasing a 9–2 deficit to win the first game 11–9, Garnett faces a 0–10 mountain in the second--and climbs it, winning 12 straight points to seal a 12–10 victory. This piece captures the drama, psychology, and raw physicality of elite men’s singles, highlighting why pickleball has become the most intense combat sport you’re not paying enough attention to.